Composite package



Feb. Z0, 1951 c. c. ADAMS COMPOSITE PACKAGE Filed oct. 8, 1948 R O T N EV N ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 20, 1 951 COlVIPOSITE PACKAGE K Charles C.Adams, New York, N. Y., assigner to Davis & Geck, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y.,a corporation of New York Application October 8, 1948, Serial No. 53,440

. 1 Claim.

* 1 The present invention relates to a composite package which shallinclude a sterile surgical article such as a suture or the like.

The principal object of the invention .is the provision of such apackage which is convenient to handle both from the standpoint of thesurgeon and his nurse assistants, which insures the maintenance ofsterility of the surgical articles contained therein, which has aminimum of manufacturing diiliculties including cost, and which is soconstructed as to minimize damage and breakage if accidentally dropped.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a compositepackage in which the surgical articles such as sutures are placed inmore or less rigid containers, the containers placed within an inner,substantially transparent envelope with a quantity of sterilizing fluid,the inner envelope then sealed, placed within a` similar outer envelopewith more sterilizing fluid and the outer envelope sealed.

It is to be understood, of course, that the irnmediate container for thesurgical article and the envelopes are sufficiently resistant `to thesterilizing fluid used, such as ethyl alcohol and the like, to preventleakage or evaporation.

Throughout the specification and claim where the Word transparent isused, it is to be understood that this term means either transparent ortranslucent to such an extent that any indicia included on or Within thesurgical-article-container will be visible through the walls of theouter envelope.

Any of the polyethylene plastics is admirably suited for this purpose asthey have the property of reasonable transparency, flexibility,toughness, are resistant to most sterilizing fluids including ethylalcohol, can readily be made in seamless, tubular shapes which may thenbe cut to desired lengths and the ends heat-sealed with or withoutfolding, or any of the well known plastic cements may be used to assistin this operation.

The invention contemplates that the amount of sterilizing liquid placedin the inner envelope and in the outer envelope will be less than thepossible capacity of each envelope. It is also contemplated that atleast some air space may remain above the liquid level in the envelopesso that there will be no tendency for the envelopes to balloon and thusaccidentally rupture in case a series of such packages are placedtogether or put under some pressure as by handling.

It has been found that such a package has the unexpected property ofresisting rupture and aimrcling maximum protection to the surgicaly thedescription proceeds and with reference to the following drawings inwhich:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a composite pack- Vage of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a method of assembly. i

Referring now with partcularity to the embodiment illustrated in thedrawings, a well known type of suture container is shown at l whichcomprises a length of glass tubing sealed at each end, within which hasbeen placed a length of suture material 2 and which also carries indicia3 which may indicate the length. grade, size, manufacturers name, etc.The tube l may or may not contain a quantity of sterilizing liquid 4 asiswell known. v

In the preferred form, one or more of these suture tubes are placed in aflexible, substantially transparent, sterilizingliquid-resistant-envelope 5 of a polyethylene plastic or the like. Suchenvelope can conveniently be made from a length of seamless tubing tominimize rupture. Also within the inner envelope 5 is placed a quantityof sterilizing liquid 6 of a volume less than the possible inner volumeof the envelope. The envelope is then partially collapsed so as toremove at least a portion of the air above the liquid level therein andeither heat-sealed or sealed with any of the well known plastic cementswhich is also insoluble in the sterilizing liquid used. In most cases,the sterilizing liquid used throughout the package may be any of thewell known substances such as ethyl alcohol or the like.

The inner envelope 5 carrying the suture containers is then placed in anouter envelope l similar in all respects to the inner envelope 5 exceptslightly larger to accommodate the inner envelope and its contents.Additional sterilizing liquid 8 is then placed in the outer envelope andthe envelope sealed as before. It is preferable that there be areasonable amount of space between one sealed end of the inner envelopeand the corresponding sealed end of the outer envelope to enable thenurse or doctor to cut the edge portion of the outer envelope withoutdamaging the inner one.

`In use, the circulating nurse (unsterileg 3 chooses a package ofsutures appropriate for the occasion, that is, as to size, grade, colorand number of sutures contained in the package, and with her scissors orother instrument cuts ofi the top edge being careful not to mutilate theinner envelope. Holding onto the uncut edge of the outer envelope 1 shepermits thexinner envelope. and the contained liquid to either fall upona sterile `towel from which it can be removed' by the sterile nurse Whousually Wears rubber gloves:A or to move the inner envelope out oftheouter. one.

outside. VShey then` cuts the end. portionr of the inner envelope 5,selects'. the-suturetube desi-red and', removes the suture.- :forv thevdoctor'l in'J the usual manner such asby breakingthe tube I-t is toloe-noted; tha-tthe` only thing unsterileA about the entire compositepackage is the outside. ofthe outery envelope sof that as. the innerenvelope; thev suturecontainers and the sutures are sequentiallyremoved; they: are in.. ai completely sterile condition both inside andout, and no: opportunity for contaminationfexists.

Attention. isralsor` calleclf-to thef'actz'that as. both envelopesaresubstantially transparent, the nurse iss readily able to: read. the'vindicia on or Within the suture container so that she may readilychoose:the type of. suture requirecf 'lhevfact that'. therefi's sterilizing"liquid in: both the inner andf outerenvelope's.: also'. insultes quickand" readydetection' as tev Whether or'notthere. is a leak` ofthat-liquid which mightlead-"to infection and the package refiected.

It is also of considerable advantage tobeableto make available to thedoctor' a pluralityl of sutures in one composite package Without theE Ynecessity of handling more thanone package.

- the.- outsideof. the. tube.

It has been found that such a composite pack age is of particularadvantage in that not only does the fact that the two envelopes areflexible help to prevent breakage of the glass or other rigidfinnermostcontainer for the sutures if the package is accidentally dropped buttheV presenceV et less than the total capacity of liquidin each envelopecauses a surge'L when the package is dropped and this materially assistsin avoiding accidental breakage and rupture.

.Asmost hospitals have a glass or a metal container convenient andiilled with a sterilizing liquidi. any individual; suture tubes whichremain unusedfatitheend of the operation may be readilydroppedi'thereinto to maintain the sterility of Thus those tubes andtheir contained sutures are still available for the next: operation asspares.

While the invention has been described with particular referencer tospecific embodiments; it

is turbe:- understoodr that it is. not to be limited. thereto, but istobe construed broadly andare:-v

stricted solely by the' scope: of the appended claim.

I claim: Y

A package comprisingan.oute1,.sealed trans-- 1-arent` exibl: envelopecontaining aV sterilizingr liquids. and an innen; sea-led', transparentflexible envelope;y said inner envelope'.` containing a. steri' lizingliquidiA auch af. sea-lede; container, said Yccm'-v tainer havingtherein. a: suture.- the'liqui'd` in each;

. l'e of' thispatentr

